Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross has insisted he has not considered quitting after flip flopping on calls for Boris Johnson to quit.
The MSP also denied he was “pathetic” after being roundly mocked over his partygate u-turn.
Ross had earlier this year led demands for the Prime Minister to quit over the scandal of Downing Street parties during lockdown.
Ahead of the Scottish Tory conference last month, he rescinded his quit call, citing Johnson’s role in the Ukraine crisis as a reason for him to stay.
However, with Johnson being fined over his attendance at an illegal party, Ross has been slammed by political opponents.
Labour leader Keir Starmer yesterday turned up the heat by claiming Ross had been “rendered pathetic”.
Mobbed by reporters at Holyrood, Ross was asked if he had considered resigning himself.
He responded: “No.”
Asked why not, he said: “I’ve taken a decision [on the PM] based on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. I’ve previously been very critical of the Prime Minister. I think his actions have been absolutely unacceptable, but I’m looking at the situation globally.”
Asked if he had been rendered pathetic, Ross said: “Opposition politicians call me lots of things.”
Asked again whether he is pathetic, Ross said: “No, I’m not.”
It came as Johnson faces the prospect of a parliamentary investigation into whether he lied to MPs about Downing Street parties during the coronavirus lockdowns.
In response to a backbench revolt, ministers abandoned attempts to force Conservative MPs to vote for a delay in setting up any investigation.
An investigation is now expected to be approved today – although it will not begin until police inquiries have concluded.
During an interview with ITV Border Ross said it was impossible to be at FMQs then be in Westminster for 5pm for the vote.
He added: "I can't physically get to Westminster in time for a 5pm vote having just completed First Minister's Questions. It's now 12.45.
"I have a responsibility here to ask questions. I couldn't have made the journey after completing First Minister's Questions, but we don't even know if there is going to be a vote.
"The government have withdrawn their amendment which is clearly a signal that the Prime Minister is happy for this to go to the privileges committee.
"I'm very happy for that to go to the privileges committee. I think it's right that all the information is in the public domain and that's what the privileges committee will look at."
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